Just a quick one. Went on hols for a week, came home & about half maybe slightly more of onions appear to have blown over. Now they're slightly mature but far less large than i'd prefer. Will they continue to develop even though they've kinked/blown over stalks? Or am i best harvesting them now?

they will continue to swell so leave them there as they are. the leaves will not grow any further but the bulbs will draw food from the leaves. Don't pull them until the leaves have turned yellow and withering.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

I think it will be hit and miss, some of the onions will stop developing and others may recover and keep up the good fight. At least that is what I noticed from a similar event in Dublin a few weeks back.

Another question I have re the onions is that we noticed one of the onions in our raised bed that we pulled to "test" was a bit rotten on the base. I hoped that it wasn't white rot so we pulled up about 2 dozen more and they were all ok. I have them drying on a sunny sill in a sunroom/potting area we have because we were expecting rain. I am wondering what effect will pulling these onions early have? Will they not keep so long? They are fine sized onions, 2" and 3" in diameter at least.

The rotting at the base of the onions could be white rot but if you did not see white fluffy fungus then it is hardly whiterot. There are other rots that affect the bases but are not as serious as whiterot such as verticilium. Even if onions are not matured when they are pulled they will keep fairly well if they are well dried and stored in cool conditions.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

The rotting at the base of the onions could be white rot but if you did not see white fluffy fungus then it is hardly whiterot. There are other rots that affect the bases but are not as serious as whiterot such as verticilium. Even if onions are not matured when they are pulled they will keep fairly well if they are well dried and stored in cool conditions.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)

Thanks. I have them drying on a bench in a sunroom we use now as semi-greenhouse and they seem to be drying out quite well. I think I will string and hang them this weekend - need the space back!_________________Let us be grateful to people who make us happy: They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust

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